And the new HISD board president is…

HISD trustees typically elect a new president at their first meeting in January, but on Thursday they ran into a “glitch,” as current board president Anna Eastman called it.

The mandatory posting before the meeting did not include choosing new board officers. No one has pointed fingers at the culprit who neglected to include the item.

Eastman said trustees would vote on the officers at their annual retreat next weekend.

The president selection has included lots of behind-the-scenes politicking in recent years, but the chatter has been quieter this year. First vice president Juliet Stipeche is the likely pick.

The president is the face of the board, speaking at events on the board’s behalf, and meets regularly with Superintendent Terry Grier. The president also has sway in setting the agenda, but still is only one of nine votes.